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Preparing for the Winter Roads

03 December 2019

It’s December which means we’re heading into the heart of winter and this year looks set to be a cold one with plenty of disruptions to our roads. The Weather Company is forecasting that we will receive 30 to 40 days of snow or ice disruption in Scotland and northern England with 15 to 20 days in the South of England. With these potentially treacherous conditions on the way we’ve put together some winter driving tips to help prepare your fleets for the roads.

Before you set off

Before even thinking about your car, put together an emergency kit so you have everything you need should you encounter problems on the road. This should include necessities such as a snow shovel and brush; a basic tool kit with screwdrivers, pliers and a wrench; a bag of traction material like kitty litter or sand; a flashlight with extra batteries; and items to keep you warm, like extra clothes, gloves, hats and Mylar thermal blankets (known as “space blankets”). Finally, make sure your emergency kit contains booster cables and is well stocked with first-aid essentials and non-perishable food items. If you don’t want to assemble a kit from scratch, you can easily buy already assembled emergency kits online.

Getting your car ready for work

Now on to the car itself. There are three main areas to consider; vision, visibility and tyres. Starting with vision. Make sure your windscreen and other windows are clean inside and out to avoid any unnecessary blind spots. You should also clear the roof of any snow to prevent it falling onto your windscreen and obscuring your vision.

Secondly visibility. Make sure all the car lights are working and you should also clean the lenses to maximise their effectiveness. Don’t be afraid to use fog lights when visibility is particularly bad (less than 100m) but make sure to turn them off when conditions improve. Your number plates may not seem like a priority, but they need to be kept clean to avoid any potential fines.

Finally, your tyres. These are your main connection to the road, so be sure they are inflated properly. Underinflated tyres may provide less traction, reduce fuel mileage and can wear out prematurely, so check your pressure at least once a month to ensure you’re driving on properly inflated tyres.

Depending on the conditions in your area, you may want to swap to winter tyres or all-season tyres, if not, ensure you have a safe tread depth for your road conditions. It is recommended that there should be at least 3mm of tread for winter road conditions.

Stay in Charge

A strong and fully charged battery is an absolute necessity in cold weather. Extreme temperatures can take their toll on your battery’s power, so if your battery is more than 3 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it. Also, be sure the connections are clean, tight and corrosion-free to ensure full-strength winter starts. Some commercial car care centres will test your current car battery for free and sell you a new battery, if needed. Some will also check your vehicle’s electrical system to ensure everything is in working order.

On the Road

Slick surfaces typically require a longer stopping distance, so keep a greater-than-usual distance between your car and other vehicles. This should give you ample time to respond to road and weather hazards. Practice gentle acceleration and braking to maintain consistent traction in snowy and icy conditions; if your wheels begin to spin, release the accelerator until traction returns.

If you find yourself in a skid, let up on the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of your car to go. Experts warn that you should not hit the accelerator or the brake until you have control of your car again.

If you get stuck in snow, do not spin the wheels or rev the vehicle, as this will dig the vehicle further in. Instead, put the vehicle into as high a gear as possible and slowly manoeuvre the vehicle lightly forwards and backwards which should hopefully allow you to get unstuck. if you are unable to free yourself, stay in the vehicle unless help is visible within 100 yards. Do not abandon your vehicle as this can hold up rescue vehicles.

Time for an upgrade?

Practically every automaker offers electronic traction and stability control systems that work along with the car’s anti-lock braking system to assist drivers in slippery road conditions. Though they all use different trade names, these safety systems all function to help the driver maintain control in curves and turns — especially in wet or slippery conditions — by detecting when the vehicle begins to slip and reducing the throttle and applying the brakes to individual wheels to help correct the vehicle’s orientation. Traction systems also prevent the vehicle’s drive wheels from spinning while accelerating under slippery conditions.

For further assistance or advice on how to best prepare your fleet for the winter road conditions please visit our website here or call us directly on 01480 414541.  

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